US5596867A - Cutoff assembly for a form fill and seal packaging machine - Google Patents
Cutoff assembly for a form fill and seal packaging machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US5596867A US5596867A US08/547,769 US54776995A US5596867A US 5596867 A US5596867 A US 5596867A US 54776995 A US54776995 A US 54776995A US 5596867 A US5596867 A US 5596867A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- packaging machine
- movable blade
- cutoff
- cutoff assembly
- eccentric
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
- B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
- B65B61/04—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages
- B65B61/06—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for severing webs, or for separating joined packages by cutting
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T83/00—Cutting
- Y10T83/869—Means to drive or to guide tool
- Y10T83/8776—Constantly urged tool or tool support [e.g., spring biased]
- Y10T83/8778—Ledger blade
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T83/00—Cutting
- Y10T83/929—Tool or tool with support
- Y10T83/9457—Joint or connection
- Y10T83/9473—For rectilinearly reciprocating tool
- Y10T83/9483—Adjustable
- Y10T83/9486—Rectilinearly
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to packaging machines for forming, filling and sealing flexible pouches, and more particularly, to an improved cutoff assembly for such machines.
- the separate cutoff or severing means for the formed pouches must extend horizontally across the width of the machine and the vertical streams of material being formed, filled and sealed so as to be capable of simultaneously cutting off the formed lower pouches in each of the vertical streams of material.
- cutoff means work well, they do have numerous drawbacks and/or problems, such as when cutting hard to cut packaging materials, when operating at high speeds, or when environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature, or the like, change. Additionally, over extended periods of use almost all cutoff systems require adjustment, realignment or replacement because of wear and related factors. When known cutoff means become misaligned or wear down, the packaging machines must be stopped and the entire cutoff means either readjusted or replaced. This usually requires special tools, and extended periods of downtime for such machines. Furthermore, in known machines, depending on the materials being cut and the speed of the machines, the known cutoff means quickly become out-of-register, thereby forming unaesthetic and/or unusable pouches. These unusable pouches must be thrown away, resulting in loss of product and waste of materials.
- cutoff means Since known cutoff means have no easy adjusting or aligning mechanisms, much time and effort must be spent in either the readjustment or replacement of the entire cutting means. The resulting downtime of the machine is costly, and can cause shortages and other related problems for the machine user and its customers. Therefore, there exists a need in the package and dispensing art for a cutoff means which may be easily and quickly adjusted, at least in one dimension, and which overcomes the above set drawbacks, as well as other problems, and which may be easily fitted to existing machinery, or integrated into new machines during manufacture.
- a novel cutoff assembly means for a vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine has a pair of cutoff blades held horizontally in the packaging machine. One of the blades is fixed in position, while the other blade is aligned therewith and movable to cutoff a plurality of formed lower pouches from upper pouches.
- the movable blade is preferably floating, and includes adjusting means to move it in a horizontal direction.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevational view of a representational form, fill and seal packaging machine having a cutoff assembly of the present invention mounted therein;
- FIG. 2 is a partial exploded isometric view of a cutoff assembly means in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a further partial exploded isometric view of the cutoff blades and holding means of FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial exploded isometric view of one end of the cutoff assembly means of FIG. 2 showing details of one of the cutoff blade adjusting means.
- Machine 12 uses a pair of rolls of heat sealable plastic film 14, mounted at the top of the machine.
- the film has a variety of widths and travels downwardly (vertically) through the machine, toward the bottom, to simultaneously form, fill and seal pouches 15, in a plurality of streams.
- the finally formed pouches 15, which may hold any of a variety of viscous food for use elsewhere, are then cut off from upper, partially formed pouches 16 at the end of their vertical or downward travel through the machine, by the cutoff means 10.
- These formed lower pouches 15 are secured to endless streams of the flexible rolls of film 14, heat sealed together and filled in the machine, and then horizontally cut off by the knife cutoff assembly 10 from the partially formed upper pouches 16, so as to form the independent pouches 15 which are discharged from machine 12 at the lowest point 17, thereof.
- the novel knife cutoff assembly 10 of the present invention is placed downstream (vertically) in the machine 12, and horizontally cuts off a plurality of formed pouches 15, after the pouches are formed by side seal means 18 and the head seal 19, which slit the material 14 and form the side, bottom and top cross seals in the pouches 15 before they are finally cut off by the cutoff means 10.
- FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 there shown are the main components of the novel knife cutoff means assembly 10 of the present invention. These include a fixed cutoff blade or knife 20 and a movable cutoff blade or knife 22.
- the fixed knife 20 is preferably secured to a first holding means, such as a strongback 24, by a plurality securing means 26, 28, such as screws and nuts, which pass through a plurality of aligned openings 30, 32 formed through the strongback 24 and knife 20, so as to secure the knife 20 in a position where it will cooperate with knife 22.
- the strongback 24 is preferably immovably secured in the machine 12 by holding means, such as slideblocks 34, secured to the ends of the strongback 24 and held in the machine by any desired securing means.
- the slideblocks 34 include openings 35 through which slide shafts (not shown) may travel to guide the movable knife 22 toward the fixed knife 20.
- the movable knife 22 is in turn mounted to a second strongback 37 by a plurality of securing means, such as a plurality of bolts 38, washers 40, springs 42 and nuts 44, passing through a plurality of aligned openings 46, 48 formed through the knife 22 and the strongback 37.
- This securing means particularly the springs 42, allows the movable knife 22 to float in the vertical direction, with respect to the machine 12 and fixed blade 20.
- the strongback 37, with the knife 22 secured thereto is secured to slideblocks 34, slidably held in the machine, as by means of openings 35 having slide shafts therein.
- the movable knife 22, second strongback 37, and slideblocks 34 when assembled and secured together, are operated in a known manner by operating means 23, such as a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to the strongback 37 to reciprocate the knife 22 into contact with fixed knife 20.
- hard to cut materials not normally cut with known cutting means in known form, fill and seal packaging machines, may be accurately and positively cut.
- the floating or vertical movement of the movable blade 22 is adjusted by loosening or tightening the nut and bolts holding the blade 22 to the strongback 37, so as to compress or loosen the spring 42 so as to allow more or less play therein, in a known manner.
- the present invention also provides adjusting means 50, formed at both ends of the movable cutoff blade 22.
- This adjusting means 50 may be formed in any desirable manner, such as mechanical adjusting means comprised of mechanical means cooperating with the cutoff knife 22 and/or strongback 37 at either or both ends thereof.
- each end of the floating knife 22 is provided with adjustable positioning means 52 secured to the strongback 37 (see FIGS. 2 and 4).
- the adjustable positioning means 52 includes an elliptically shaped central opening 56, having a cam means, such as an eccentric 57 rotatably mounted therein, as by means of a removable securing means, such as a bolt 58 passing through a central opening 60 (see FIG. 4) within eccentric 57 and secured within a further opening 62, preferably threaded, formed in the strongback 37.
- the adjustable positioning means 52 also includes an extending finger 64 which cooperates with an end of knife blade 22, for movement thereof, as described below.
- each of the slideblocks 34 is secured to an end of either strongback 24 or 37 by securing means, such as threaded screws 66, passing through openings 68, formed in reduced thickness end portions 70, and secured within either threaded openings 72, formed at the ends of strongback 37, or threaded openings 74, formed at the ends of strongback 24.
- securing means such as threaded screws 66, passing through openings 68, formed in reduced thickness end portions 70, and secured within either threaded openings 72, formed at the ends of strongback 37, or threaded openings 74, formed at the ends of strongback 24.
- Each of the adjusting means 50 at the ends of the movable knife blade 22 allow quick, accurate and precise adjustment of the blade 22 in the horizontal direction so as to produce the best possible pouches in the shortest period of time, without requiring special tools, and the dismantling of the entire packaging machine and/or the cutoff means thereon.
- the unique adjusting means in the novel cutoff means of the present invention provides an adjusting means which may be quickly and easily operated in such a manner that the down time of the packaging machine is minimized.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Package Closures (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (16)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/547,769 US5596867A (en) | 1995-10-25 | 1995-10-25 | Cutoff assembly for a form fill and seal packaging machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/547,769 US5596867A (en) | 1995-10-25 | 1995-10-25 | Cutoff assembly for a form fill and seal packaging machine |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US5596867A true US5596867A (en) | 1997-01-28 |
Family
ID=24186055
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/547,769 Expired - Fee Related US5596867A (en) | 1995-10-25 | 1995-10-25 | Cutoff assembly for a form fill and seal packaging machine |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US5596867A (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6499270B2 (en) | 1997-08-04 | 2002-12-31 | Pyxis Corporation | Method and apparatus for transferring objects |
US20030009987A1 (en) * | 2001-07-12 | 2003-01-16 | Germick Robert J. | Food products, especially refrigerated yogurt products, and apparatus and methods for their production |
US20040187442A1 (en) * | 2003-03-27 | 2004-09-30 | Swf Companies, Inc. | High-speed continuous action form-fill-seal apparatus |
US20050081696A1 (en) * | 2003-10-20 | 2005-04-21 | Western Printing Machinery Company | Knife assembly for rotary cutting system |
US20070068353A1 (en) * | 2005-09-26 | 2007-03-29 | Sealed Air Corporation | Machine for severing a web |
Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1139572A (en) * | 1914-04-03 | 1915-05-18 | Rogers Shear Company | Envelop-opener. |
US3148575A (en) * | 1958-08-07 | 1964-09-15 | Bolton John W & Sons Inc | Detachable, adjustable machine knife |
US3196724A (en) * | 1962-10-01 | 1965-07-27 | Avisun Corp | Shear type cutter |
US3289388A (en) * | 1962-05-30 | 1966-12-06 | Etude & D Applic Ind De Brevet | Apparatus for packing fluent substances in sealed plastic containers |
US3661488A (en) * | 1970-04-13 | 1972-05-09 | American Can Co | Device for cutting parisons |
US3738080A (en) * | 1970-07-03 | 1973-06-12 | Sabrefina Sa | Packing machine |
US4265074A (en) * | 1978-10-30 | 1981-05-05 | Sigma Systems, Inc. | Web processing mechanism for forming packages |
US4768330A (en) * | 1987-07-30 | 1988-09-06 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Bag gripper and spreader for form, fill and seal bagging machine |
US4845926A (en) * | 1987-07-30 | 1989-07-11 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Pouch packaging machine with independent side and cross seals |
US4996819A (en) * | 1989-05-30 | 1991-03-05 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Film feed device for packaging machine |
US5016426A (en) * | 1989-08-11 | 1991-05-21 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Biased cross seal for packaging machine |
US5255588A (en) * | 1992-06-02 | 1993-10-26 | Plastofilm Industries, Inc. | Apparatus for making accurate cuts in thermoformed articles |
US5408807A (en) * | 1993-01-29 | 1995-04-25 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Dispenser pouch and tooling for making |
-
1995
- 1995-10-25 US US08/547,769 patent/US5596867A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1139572A (en) * | 1914-04-03 | 1915-05-18 | Rogers Shear Company | Envelop-opener. |
US3148575A (en) * | 1958-08-07 | 1964-09-15 | Bolton John W & Sons Inc | Detachable, adjustable machine knife |
US3289388A (en) * | 1962-05-30 | 1966-12-06 | Etude & D Applic Ind De Brevet | Apparatus for packing fluent substances in sealed plastic containers |
US3196724A (en) * | 1962-10-01 | 1965-07-27 | Avisun Corp | Shear type cutter |
US3661488A (en) * | 1970-04-13 | 1972-05-09 | American Can Co | Device for cutting parisons |
US3738080A (en) * | 1970-07-03 | 1973-06-12 | Sabrefina Sa | Packing machine |
US4265074A (en) * | 1978-10-30 | 1981-05-05 | Sigma Systems, Inc. | Web processing mechanism for forming packages |
US4768330A (en) * | 1987-07-30 | 1988-09-06 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Bag gripper and spreader for form, fill and seal bagging machine |
US4845926A (en) * | 1987-07-30 | 1989-07-11 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Pouch packaging machine with independent side and cross seals |
US4996819A (en) * | 1989-05-30 | 1991-03-05 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Film feed device for packaging machine |
US5016426A (en) * | 1989-08-11 | 1991-05-21 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Biased cross seal for packaging machine |
US5255588A (en) * | 1992-06-02 | 1993-10-26 | Plastofilm Industries, Inc. | Apparatus for making accurate cuts in thermoformed articles |
US5408807A (en) * | 1993-01-29 | 1995-04-25 | W. A. Lane, Inc. | Dispenser pouch and tooling for making |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6499270B2 (en) | 1997-08-04 | 2002-12-31 | Pyxis Corporation | Method and apparatus for transferring objects |
US20030009987A1 (en) * | 2001-07-12 | 2003-01-16 | Germick Robert J. | Food products, especially refrigerated yogurt products, and apparatus and methods for their production |
US7128935B2 (en) | 2001-07-12 | 2006-10-31 | General Mills, Inc. | Method for making a patterned food product |
US20040187442A1 (en) * | 2003-03-27 | 2004-09-30 | Swf Companies, Inc. | High-speed continuous action form-fill-seal apparatus |
US6966166B2 (en) | 2003-03-27 | 2005-11-22 | Swf Companies, Inc. | High-speed continuous action form-fill-seal machine and methods |
US20050081696A1 (en) * | 2003-10-20 | 2005-04-21 | Western Printing Machinery Company | Knife assembly for rotary cutting system |
US7900542B2 (en) * | 2003-10-20 | 2011-03-08 | Western Printing Machinery Company | Knife assembly for rotary cutting system |
US20070068353A1 (en) * | 2005-09-26 | 2007-03-29 | Sealed Air Corporation | Machine for severing a web |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: W. A. LANE, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DAVIS, STEVEN D.;REEL/FRAME:007725/0768 Effective date: 19951013 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WINPAK LANE, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:W.A. LANE, INC.;REEL/FRAME:007833/0266 Effective date: 19960131 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WINPAK LANE, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:W. A. LANE, INC.;REEL/FRAME:008098/0439 Effective date: 19960715 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: PAT HLDR NO LONGER CLAIMS SMALL ENT STAT AS SMALL BUSINESS (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: LSM2); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20050128 |